Theology is the study of theism; Atheology is the study of atheism. I am The Atheologist.
Why don’t Atheists embrace religion when the vast majority of humans do?
Why are Atheists regarded by most of society as thugs, rabble, vermin and generally naughty people. The Atheologist will attempt to seek out the true answers to these and many more questions by using logical assumptions, interviews with people of all faiths and really, really good research. The Atheologist wants to know.

Don't be so afraid of losing your Frisbee, that you never throw it. Just try not to let it go in the neighborâs yard. (The one with the crazy Rottweiler).

Monday, November 28, 2005

Was the USA founded on Christian principles?

We hear the arguments all the time. The USA was founded on Christian principles say some Christians. No it wasn’t say the Atheists and others. Who is correct?The Atheologist will attempt to answer this question once and for all.

The Atheologist did a Google search and as anticipated the results went something like this, Group A, mainly Christians say, “yes the USA was founded on Christian principles”, while Group B, the Atheists, Deists, Secularists, Humanists, historians, and pretty much everyone else says, "no the USA was not founded on Christian principles”, “was too”, “was not”, “was too”, “was not”, “was too”, “was not”, “was too"….and on and on it went until the Atheologist’s head hurt..

"It is certainly true that the precepts of faith are interwoven throughout the founding documents of this nation. The forms of our constitutional government - as implemented by Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and others - were carefully designed to acknowledge the authority of the Scriptures and our dependence upon the Creator."

The Atheologist then turned to someone with an opposing view, Reverend Barry W. Lynn; executive director of American’s United for Separation of Church and State. Barry says that it is a myth that America is a Christian nation. He then proceeded to throw questions at me like; - Where in the Bible are any Democratic principles even mentioned? Why is God or Jesus never mentioned in the US constitution? Why would Thomas Jefferson say, “Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law” or why would Thomas Paine say , “The age of ignorance commenced with the Christian system”. These were two of our great founding fathers. And then we have James Madison who said, “Ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption, all of which facilitate the execution of mischievous projects” and Benjamin Franklin, "I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies." Would two of the main authors of our constitution say things like that if they were using Christian principles as a framework for our country?. - I guess Barry didn’t understand that I was supposed to be asking the questions, not him. I needed answers not more questions.

“God sent his followers to claim America as the New Canaan” says Fred, “haven’t you ever read the Bible you hell bound pervert, the Bible and the founding of this once great country are undeniably linked. Read God's book and learn about the great Christian principles that this country was founded on. For example, our forefathers, such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington owned slaves. The Old and New Testaments permit slavery and have rules about beating and treating slaves. The original U.S. Constitution permitted slavery and so did Jesus. The secular, liberal, God-hating heathens later changed the constitution, and turned against God, to suit their needs. The keeping of women in their proper place, (Ephesians 5:22-24 and 1Timothy 2:11-12), and the wiping out of the red man, (Numbers 33:52-53), were also some of our other original Christian principles that we hardly follow anymore. This country will pay dearly for these transgressions against our Lord. If we don’t go back to our glorious Christian roots and basic Biblical laws such as stoning fags and stubborn children to death, then 9/11 and Katrina will seem like nothing compared with what the good Lordhas in store for you devil worshipping dogs. Do you have any more stupid questions you homo fag sodomite?”

6 Comments:

I am a christian and am ashamed that there are those so called preachers out there that twist the word to cause harm to people. Probably just like anything else there are extremist in Athesim and Christianity and neither group is represented by them. If you have an opportunity review the DVD the Truth Project on history and it might help in your search. Do I think our country was founded on Biblical laws and morals yes, do I think all of our forefathers felt that way no, but you can't rewrite history to please either group of people today. The commandments are on old buildings and talk of God is in some laws because that is the way it happened in that time and we can't go tearing them down just because someone doesn't like it, because it is history. Before you know it we will change or hide all kinds of things because the people of today don't like it.

Fred Phelps isn't "twist[ing] the word", he's reading the Bible word for word. What most Christians do is skip over the parts they don't like. Just because God is mentioned in a document doesn't mean it's the Christian God. Most religions have a god of some kind...given what some founding fathers wrote in various letters it's apparent that they used God in a general, inclusive, sense, not a narrow Christian sense.

Jefferson's quote is taken without consideration for Jefferson's high view of Jesus's ethical teachings.

Franklin's quote is obscure. The only source for it is a book written in 2001. I don't think he was alive by then.

Madison's quote is taken out of context. He rejected an "established" church in government, such as the Church of England. And believed denominational diversity was more beneficial for society (this is why the constitution does not establish any religion over another).

Paine is the only quote which is spot on. Both in its expression and representation. But let me add that Paine's only claim to fame is his work during the revolutionary war. His pamphlet "Common Sense" helped to unite the people in agreement to become independent from Great Britain. But other than that his other writings didn't seem to catch on. I wonder why?

And to your point from Barry: "Would two of the main authors of our constitution say things like that if they were using Christian principles as a framework for our country?"

He must have not known that more than half of the people who signed the Declaration and the Constitution held seminary degrees. And several were pastors. Or that the first meeting the Continental Congress had was a prayer meeting.